Managing Stress: A Guide for College Students

Relaxation: Relaxing Your Body and Mind

There are a number of relaxation techniques that can help you manage stress and also improve your concentration, productivity and overall well-being.

If you need help, ask a therapist or counselor. He or she can offer more detailed instructions and coaching to help you perfect these techniques.

TO GET STARTED
· Find a quiet, relaxing place, where you will be alone for 10-20 minutes to do these exercises. The techniques work best if there are no distractions.
· Practice once or twice a day.
· Stick with the technique that works best for you. Not every technique will work for every person.
· Keep trying. Don't worry if you don't notice a major change immediately. You may need to practice for a few weeks before you begin to feel the benefits.
· Try one or more of the techniques described below.

PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION
This technique can help you relax the major muscle groups in your body. And, it's easy to do.

1. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Sit in a favorite chair or lie down.
2. Begin with your facial muscles. Frown hard for 5-10 seconds and then relax all your muscles.
3. Work other facial muscles by scrunching your face up or knitting your eyebrows for 5-10 seconds. Release. You should feel a noticeable difference between the tense and relaxed muscles.
4. Move on to your jaw. Then, move on to other muscle groups – shoulders, arms, chest, legs, etc. – until you've tensed and relaxed individual muscle groups throughout your whole body.

MEDITATION
This is the process of focusing on a single word or object to clear your mind. As a result, you feel calm and refreshed.

1. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Sit or lie in a relaxing position.
2. Close your eyes and concentrate on a calming thought, word or object.
3. You may find that other thoughts pop into your mind. Don't worry, this is normal. Try not to dwell on them. Just keep focusing on your image or sound.
5. If you're having trouble, try repeating a word or sound over and over. (Some people find it helpful to play soothing music while meditating.)
6. Gradually, you'll begin to feel more and more relaxed.

VISUALIZATION
This technique uses your imagination, a great resource when it comes to reducing stress.

1. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
2. Imagine a pleasant, peaceful scene, such as a lush forest or a sandy beach. Picture yourself in this setting.
3. Focus on the scene for a set amount of time (any amount of time you are comfortable with), then gradually return to the present.

DEEP BREATHING
One of the easiest ways to relieve tension is deep breathing.

1. Lie on your back with a pillow under your head. Bend your knees (or put a pillow under them) to relax your stomach.
2. Put one hand on your stomach, just below your rib cage.
3. Slowly breathe in through your nose. Your stomach should feel like it's rising.
4. Exhale slowly through your mouth, emptying your lungs completely and letting your stomach fall.
5. Repeat several times until you feel calm and relaxed. Practice daily.

Once you are able to do this easily, you can practice this technique almost anywhere, at any time.

DRAWING AND COLORING
Mandala is Sanskrit for circle, polygon, community and connection. The circle concept exists in nature, is found in many religious symbols and represents wholeness. Mandalas are intricate designs that can be a part of the meditating experience. When you color a mandala, your goal is to focus on the process of coloring, and be mindful of how it feels to color. It is very relaxing and calming. When you have finished, you have created a lovely picture. Download a mandala for coloring.

Body Tension Reducers
Methods for reducing tension throughout different parts of your body.

References and Resources